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Statement by BMW

The following statement from BMW was sent to the BMW Z8 Club in Germany on March 10, 2006.

"Based on the request of Z8 Club members and customers BMW will be offering a performance package for the Z8.

It increases the stiffness in the front end of the vehicle and counteracts body deformation effects caused by ambitious sporty driving on bad road surfaces.

The package does not enhance vehicle performance during normal driving use.

It will consist of a strut tower brace and reinforcement parts for the suspension strut mounts. The performance package will be priced at appr. $4900 (inclusively of installation) and will be available to customers in summer 2006."

Here is the letter I just received by FedEx

I am sure many will be upset by the price tag of the package. There may well be ways to reduce or eliminate the costs. That is between each Z8 owner and their dealer/BMW.

I do think that failure to have the "upgrade" installed and then subsequently suffering damage, may serve to limit BMW's liability, since the owner failed to mitigate his/her damages. I've already directed my dealer to install the package as soon as its available.

P.S. the "Confidential" stamp is mine not BMW's

Re: Statement by BMW

Pull the engine? $4900? Maybe the cure is worse than the disease! Since I already have the Dinan castor plates, which may provide some of the shock tower reinforcement that the bmw fix does, perhaps just adding a good Dinan (or other) designed strut brace is a viable alternative? Since there is no warranty with the bmw fix, should we start looking for alternatives? Rjay

Re: Statement by BMW

I think we need to wait for more details to be released. In the mean time, I'm curious as to why you think the engine needs to be pulled to install the upgrade kit? Did BMW provide this information? Grease Monkey

Thanks Z8 Bob!

Re: Statement by BMW

others have speculated about the need to pull the engine based on 35 hours of labor quoted in germany to do the fix. Don't know if that is the case or not. That's why the question mark. I agree we need to know alot more before deciding on possible courses of action.

Link is annoying...

my dealer's service manager knows nothing about it

For what it's worth, I checked with the sales rep at my dealer (Dreyer & Reinbold in Indy), a guy I tend to trust. He talked to their service manager, who said he'd heard nothing about this, so called someone at BMW NA (presumably in service) who also claimed to have hear nothing.

I'm not surprised that the Dealers are not in...

the loop yet. Until the "upgrade" is available, most dealers will not be informed about it. Remember that BMW AG/NA is taking the position that this is an upgrade not a recall. Actions inconsistent with that position are not likely, No?

Even after the "upgrade" is available, it is unlikely that most dealers' service departments will be aware of this unless prodded by an owner seeking the installation. I suggest working through BMW NA in conjunction with your dealer to achieve a timely upgrade at the right "price".